Jackson Jambalaya

The news is out. The Senate said screw you to Billy's threats to go to the Justice Department. The NAACP jumped into the fray (Derrick Johnson was strangely silent) and filed suit. Here is a round-up of various stories and reactions to yesterday's events.

Y'all Politics is muted in its reaction to yesterday's events while Majority in Mississippi is back at its role of Phil Bryant hack, giving him the glory for everything yesterday with the headline Good day for Phil Bryant and the GOP". Some quotes: "First, this is a major win for Phil Bryant." "Whatever the press says about Bryant is too be determined, but he certainly delivered a win for conservatives in this case. Whether it was because of his leadership or not, when you are in that position and things go your way you get the credit."

Um, not so fast. There is one name not mentioned here and that is Haley. One lobbyist said last night when I asked him what happened that "they were still scared of Haley" as the Governor really weighed in behind the scenes. Despite MIM's efforts to help the Lieutenant Governor, the truth is the old master showed up and showed why he is indeed the old master. The fact is, this mess was created by Mr. Bryant's neglect, naivete, or inability to count votes, depending on whom is talking. The other fact is its become clear this website and others are in the tank for Phil. Any criticism of Bryant is considered pro-Democrat or pro-Dennis and everything is done to puff up Phil. You would never know for example, Governor Barbour intervened yesterday or sent out a letter to Republicans about redistricting this week. No, you'd have to go to more liberal websites to get that nugget of information.

Then there are our good liberal-pinko-commie bomb-throwing America-hating yankee outside agitatin' friends over at Cottonmouth. ;-) They are rather happy with what took place yesterday:

" Word around the Capitol is that Republicans were betting that Speaker Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) would blink and appoint conferees. Betting on McCoy to blink on anything is always the wrong move. That certainly doesn't look any more likely now.

Anyone else wonder how the phrase "NAACP v. Barbour" is going to play in Des Moines? Or what about New Hampshire? What's going to be their take on an overweight, drawling, white Southern governor with that lawsuit hanging around? Barbour's congratulatory message couldn't have been more poorly timed."

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal called yesterday's actions a "lost opportunity" and editorialized "McCoy's declaration on Wednesday against further negotiations does not reflect the good faith efforts of bipartisan negotiators in the House and Senate committees who tried to craft fair plans.

The Senate leadership, abetted by Gov. Barbour, also is undeniably injecting raw politics into the issue to gain approval of a House plan assuring a Republican majority and, thus, a Republican speaker in the 2012-2016 term. Or, the goal may be to push the elections to 2012, when it is anticipated that a surge of Republican voters opposing President Obama's re-election would prevail in marginal districts, especially those with white Democratic representation. The tactic is overtly cynical, but it could be effective.

The better opportunity to achieve redistricting in the spirit of the Constitution is further negotiation in conference committee." Editorial

The Clarion-Ledger is silent but then David Hampton is off this week. The Sun-Herald is so far silent as well. The JFP merely reported the story but give them time. There will be a few comments made about this over at that site. Firemccoy.com was rather jubilant.

Stay tuned.